'He's not the best': Ex-India coach makes bold Messi claim before World Cup final
Former India coach Stephen Constantine has argued that Lionel Messi is not the greatest player in history, despite his success at the World Cup. He suggests that Argentina's tactical setup is designed to compensate for Messi's lack of defensive work.
Why it matters
The debate over Messi's legacy remains a central theme in global football discourse as he approaches the end of his international career.
As Lionel Messi prepares to lead Argentina into another FIFA World Cup final, former India coach and current Rwanda national team manager Stephen Constantine has made a bold assessment of the Argentine superstar, insisting that while Messi is among football's greatest, he is "not the best" in history.Speaking to PTI from Rwanda ahead of Sunday's blockbuster final against Spain, the Englishman ranked Pelé, Diego Maradona and Ronaldinho above the 39-year-old, arguing that Argentina's tactical setup allows Messi to conserve energy and maximise his attacking influence.Messi has enjoyed a spectacular tournament, scoring eight goals and providing four assists as defending champions Argentina reached a second successive World Cup final, including a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over England in the semifinals.'Messi is unstoppable with the ball'Constantine praised Messi's brilliance in possession but said Argentina's collective work enables the captain to shine."Messi is a wonderful player, one of the greatest, but the difference…
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